Biodiveristy And Vertabrate Anatomy

Question 1

Define taxonomy

Answer 1

A hierarchical classification system

Question 2

Define phylogeny

Answer 2

Evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 3

What are three sources of evidence we can use to study phylogeny

Answer 3

Comparative morphology
-homologous structures

Palaeontology
-fossils

Molecular biology
-DNA and RNA

Question 4

How can we tell the age of a fossil?

Answer 4

By looking at the age of the strata they are found in. Older fossils are found in deeper layers of strata

Isotope dating can be used for look at fossils and strata (carbon dating)

Question 5

How can we use molecular biology as evidence

Answer 5

Sequence analysis
-sequence of nucleotides in DNA
-sequence of proteins

Many genes are homologous between organisms but differ slightly in sequence

Question 6

What is a cladogram

Answer 6

A phylogenetic tree

Question 7

What is a clade

Answer 7

A group of organisms all related from one branch of a phylogenetic tree

Question 8

What is a paraphyletic group

Answer 8

A group that includes a common ancestor and some, but not all of its descendant

Question 9

What is a polyphyletic group

Answer 9

A group that does not contain the common ancestor of every species in the group

Question 10

What is a monophyletic group

Answer 10

A group that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants